Fr. Thomas Nathe

Fr. Thomas Nathe, Pastor

A life-time Roman Catholic, Fr. Nathe was ordained in June 2004 and served as Parochial Vicar at Holy Rosary Parish in Edmonds, WA. and then at St. Michaels Parish in Olympia on July 1, 2005. Father Nathe celebrated his first Masses at Queen of Angels Parish in Port Angeles, WA on June 30 and July 1, 2007.

Education Background:
Masters of Divinity, Mt. Angel Seminary.
BA Washington State Univ.

Work Background:
U. S. Army (Tanks)
Various odd jobs through college. Waiter for 2 ? years (basically).

Interests / Hobbies:
Prayer, sacraments, reading, jogging, socializing.

Family:
One of 16 siblings. Parents had seven children by birth and
adopted or were foster parents for another nine. I'm #15 out of the 16.
Parents are deceased.

What does my faith mean to me?
Eternal life. My life is lived for Jesus. As
much as my weak self can, I try to simply live by the question:
"What would Jesus do/want of me in every decision and situation of my life?"

Looking back, Nathe, is grateful to Jesus Christ for his vocation to the priesthood and for his Catholic faith.

That wasn't always the case.

A native son of Star of the Sea Mission in the Columbia River Gorge town of Stevenson, he knew from a young age that the priesthood might be his calling, yet he resisted.

Coming from a large family of six birth siblings and nine foster siblings, he didn't want to be set apart from the rest - the "sacrificial lamb" who went into the priesthood.

"And, of course, once I reached my adolescent years, the idea of being celibate seemed insurmountable," he recalled last week. "I didn't want to forego marriage and a family.Objectively speaking, I appreciated the priesthood. But when the thought rolled around to me being a priest."

As he progressed into young adulthood and went into the Army and then to college, however, he was "slowly but surely moving ever closer to God," though he didn't realize it at the time. Graduating from Washington State University with a bachelor's degree in business, he found he was "miserable" in that line of work, and his thoughts turned to making a simple and honest living as a plumber. He told himself: "I wouldn't have to work evenings and weekends."

Such unhappiness and inner conflicts about his future left his heart more open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, Nathe believes. "And that's when the Lord just came through."

It was a classic conversion experience, he recalled. "Within a few months, I came to know the Lord Jesus very personally, and that changed my dynamic of thinking about the possibility of priesthood. I just came to know the infinite mercy and love of Jesus Christ, and realized that I could be happy; that I could be in love with him for the rest of my life. And that enabled me to say 'yes' to this vocation."

His advice for others is to trust in God and have peace in his call for them. "We're all sort of afraid of what God might have to say to us," Nathe said. "But the truth is, what he has to say to us is what is going to lead us to our greatest happiness."

Nathe credits his parents, Richard and Paula Nathe, with being the "one-two punch" in his faith development.

During their 46 years of marriage, the couple turned their home into a haven for people in need, from foster children to wanderers.

His late father, Deacon Richard Nathe, the town's dentist, was a major influence, the son said. "He was a man who lived his faith and his convictions unto death, and I take that sense of conviction and courage" from him. At Saturday's ordination, Nathe will be wearing the miraculous medal his father gave him approximately eight years ago during his conversion experience. "He'd been wearing it since his confirmation at the age of 12," Nathe said.

Nathe said he got his piety from his mother.

"She is a prayer warrior. She hates it when I tell people this, but she prays three hours a day in from of the Blessed Sacrament for everyone else."

He said his pastors at Star of the Sea and the Holy Cross priests from the University of Portland also were role models.

Nathe studied for the priesthood at Mount Angel seminary in St. Benedict, Ore., and has a master's in divinty.

He interned at the south Seattle cluster parishes of St. Edward, St. George and St. Paul, assisted at St. Joseph Parish in Vancouver, St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Federal Way, and Sacred Heart Parish in Bellingham, and did his clinical pastoral education at a mental health institution in Washington, D.C.

Outside of ministry, he enjoys jogging and reading.


Home History Staff Fr. Thomas Nathe Catechetical Teachings Sunday Bulletin Parish Calendar Becoming Catholic Contacts Religious Formation Groups & Ministries	Fr. Thomas Nathe Fr. Thomas Nathe, Pastor A life-time Roman Catholic, Fr. Nathe was ordained in June 2004 and served as Parochial Vicar at Holy Rosary Parish in Edmonds, WA. and then at St. Michaels Parish in Olympia on July 1, 2005. Father Nathe celebrated his first Masses at Queen of Angels Parish in Port Angeles, WA on June 30 and July 1, 2007. Education Background: Masters of Divinity, Mt. Angel Seminary. BA Washington State Univ. Work Background: U. S. Army (Tanks) Various odd jobs through college. Waiter for 2 ? years (basically). Interests / Hobbies: Prayer, sacraments, reading, jogging, socializing. Family: One of 16 siblings. Parents had seven children by birth and adopted or were foster parents for another nine. I'm #15 out of the 16. Parents are deceased. What does my faith mean to me? Eternal life. My life is lived for Jesus. As much as my weak self can, I try to simply live by the question: "What would Jesus do/want of me in every decision and situation of my life?" Looking back, Nathe, is grateful to Jesus Christ for his vocation to the priesthood and for his Catholic faith. That wasn't always the case. A native son of Star of the Sea Mission in the Columbia River Gorge town of Stevenson, he knew from a young age that the priesthood might be his calling, yet he resisted. Coming from a large family of six birth siblings and nine foster siblings, he didn't want to be set apart from the rest - the "sacrificial lamb" who went into the priesthood. "And, of course, once I reached my adolescent years, the idea of being celibate seemed insurmountable," he recalled last week. "I didn't want to forego marriage and a family.Objectively speaking, I appreciated the priesthood. But when the thought rolled around to me being a priest." As he progressed into young adulthood and went into the Army and then to college, however, he was "slowly but surely moving ever closer to God," though he didn't realize it at the time. Graduating from Washington State University with a bachelor's degree in business, he found he was "miserable" in that line of work, and his thoughts turned to making a simple and honest living as a plumber. He told himself: "I wouldn't have to work evenings and weekends." Such unhappiness and inner conflicts about his future left his heart more open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, Nathe believes. "And that's when the Lord just came through." It was a classic conversion experience, he recalled. "Within a few months, I came to know the Lord Jesus very personally, and that changed my dynamic of thinking about the possibility of priesthood. I just came to know the infinite mercy and love of Jesus Christ, and realized that I could be happy; that I could be in love with him for the rest of my life. And that enabled me to say 'yes' to this vocation." His advice for others is to trust in God and have peace in his call for them. "We're all sort of afraid of what God might have to say to us," Nathe said. "But the truth is, what he has to say to us is what is going to lead us to our greatest happiness." Nathe credits his parents, Richard and Paula Nathe, with being the "one-two punch" in his faith development. During their 46 years of marriage, the couple turned their home into a haven for people in need, from foster children to wanderers. His late father, Deacon Richard Nathe, the town's dentist, was a major influence, the son said. "He was a man who lived his faith and his convictions unto death, and I take that sense of conviction and courage" from him. At Saturday's ordination, Nathe will be wearing the miraculous medal his father gave him approximately eight years ago during his conversion experience. "He'd been wearing it since his confirmation at the age of 12," Nathe said. Nathe said he got his piety from his mother. "She is a prayer warrior. She hates it when I tell people this, but she prays three hours a day in from of the Blessed Sacrament for everyone else." He said his pastors at Star of the Sea and the Holy Cross priests from the University of Portland also were role models. Nathe studied for the priesthood at Mount Angel seminary in St. Benedict, Ore., and has a master's in divinty. He interned at the south Seattle cluster parishes of St. Edward, St. George and St. Paul, assisted at St. Joseph Parish in Vancouver, St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Federal Way, and Sacred Heart Parish in Bellingham, and did his clinical pastoral education at a mental health institution in Washington, D.C. Outside of ministry, he enjoys jogging and reading.
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